SpiceJet Delhi-Pune Flight Canceled After AC Failure Sparks Passenger Protest

Nearly 150 passengers on a SpiceJet flight from Delhi to Pune were forced to disembark and protest on the tarmac Tuesday night after the aircraft's air conditioning system failed, leaving the cabin sweltering and causing several people, including a pregnant woman, to feel unwell. The incident on flight SG 105, which was scheduled to depart from Indira Gandhi International Airport's Terminal 1 at 9:45 p.m. on August 11, 2026, led to the flight's cancellation and left passengers stranded at the airport for over six hours before a replacement aircraft transported them to Pune early Wednesday morning.

Passengers reported that after boarding the delayed flight around 10:30 p.m., the cabin was already hot and humid. The situation worsened as the aircraft began taxiing toward the runway without any cooling. "The temperature rose significantly and within no time, passengers got completely drenched due to sweat," said Leshpal Javalge, a passenger on the flight. He added that the onboard blowers were switched on but supplied hot air, exacerbating the discomfort.

Conditions became critical as children cried and several passengers, including expectant mothers and elderly travelers,...